Latest news with #Walney
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Gap in law could see young people ‘committing terrorist acts by weekend'
He backed the Home Office's plan to ban Palestine Action, adding it to the list of 81 organisations which are already proscribed including Hamas, al Qaida and National Action. Lord Walney told peers it was 'a nonsense' that groups which have advocated causing 'damage', such as Palestine Action, 'have been able to operate freely for as long as they have'. But opposing the move, Labour former Northern Ireland and Wales secretary Lord Hain warned: 'If you start labelling people willy-nilly terrorists right across the board, you're going down a very, very dangerous route.' Lord Walney said: 'There is a gap in the law, it seems to me at the moment, where we ought to be able to place a restriction on an organisation that is committing systematic criminality in the name of a cause without necessarily branding them as terrorists.' He suggested a future law change could mean authorities do not 'end up branding young people who are going to be committing terrorist acts, probably, by the weekend' as terrorists. The independent crossbench peer, who was previously a Labour MP, later said: 'I think we have to think more in the Labour movement about working people here, because they have been systematically targeted in defence factories. They have been deeply intimidated. Lord Hain warned of going down a 'very dangerous route' (PA) 'At times, they have been violently injured, and it's totally unacceptable for the Labour movement to say, 'well that's ok, because it's in a cause'.' The Home Office's order, using the Terrorism Act 2000, will make it a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison to be a member of Palestine Action or to support it. The group claimed responsibility for a break in at RAF Brize Norton last month, when activists damaged two RAF Voyager aircraft using paint. Crossbencher Lord Carlile of Berriew, a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, urged peers to 'act responsibly' by 'accepting this instrument'. Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulsecoomb moved a motion to 'regret' the Government's plan (Stefan Rousseau/PA) He said: 'Every day the police prosecute people for theft. The maximum for theft – I'm not sure if it still is, but it was seven years at one time. Practically nobody gets seven years for theft. 'Most people get a non-custodial sentence. The assumption that everybody who's prosecuted is going to be locked up for years and years and years is a misleading premise for this debate.' Lord Hain was one of three Labour rebels who backed a motion to 'regret' the Home Office's plan, which Green peer Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb moved. He was joined in the 'content' lobby by Lord Hendy and former Trade Union Congress general secretary Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway. 'Frankly, I'm deeply ashamed,' Lord Hain told peers. 'This Government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to Islamic State or al Qaida, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled and morally wrong.' Lord Hain earlier said: 'In 1969-70, I was proud to lead a militant campaign of direct action to disrupt all-white, racist South African rugby and cricket tours, and we successfully succeeded in getting them stopped for two decades. 'No doubt, I would have been stigmatised as a terrorist today rather than vilified as I was then. 'That militant action could have been blocked by this motion, as could other anti-Apartheid activity, including militant protests to stop Barclays bank recruiting new students on university campuses, eventually forcing Barclays to withdraw from Apartheid South Africa.' Home Office minister Lord Hanson of Flint said he had previously protested. 'Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly are cornerstones in our democracy,' he said. 'I have protested. I know of many other members who've protested against various things in our lives, and we have done so in a fair and open way.' He added: 'People engaged in lawful protests do not need weapons. 'People engaged in lawful protests do not throw smoke bombs and fire pyrotechnics to innocent members of the public, and people engaged in lawful protest do not cause millions of pounds of damage to national security infrastructure, including submarines and defence equipment for Nato.' Baroness Jones described a 'long and noble tradition of the use of direct action by protest movements'. She added that 'Palestine Action is not like any other group that the British Government has declared a terrorist organisation so far'. Her motion to regret was rejected by 144 votes to 16, majority 128. Peers who had stayed in the chamber afterwards called 'content' to back the order, which has also received MPs' backing in the Commons after a vote on Wednesday.
Telegraph
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Kneecap referred to counter-terror police for saying ‘kill your MP'
Kneecap, the Irish Republican rap group, has been referred to counter-terror police for a second time accused of telling their fans 'kill your local MP'. The controversial trio from Belfast was already under investigation after footage emerged from a 2024 gig during which one band member appeared to shout 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. On Saturday night, the Metropolitan Police confirmed a second video, dating from a concert in London in 2023, is also being investigated to see whether it breaks UK terrorism laws. The footage allegedly showed a member of the band saying: 'We're still under British occupation in Ireland. We still have old men in London making decisions that affect my life in Ireland. 'And even worse, they're f-----g Tories. The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' A Met spokesman said: 'We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required. 'We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.' The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit is a national unit based within the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has said she is planning to crack down on a music grants scheme that gave £14,250 in taxpayer cash to Kneecap last year. The previous Tory government attempted to block the payment, which prompted Kneecap to launch a legal challenge that was not contested by Labour when it took power. Condemned across political spectrum The alleged 'kill your local MP' remarks, first unearthed by the Daily Mail, were condemned across the political spectrum on Saturday. A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: 'We condemn these appalling comments in the strongest possible terms. It is right that this incident is now being investigated by the relevant authorities. 'As the Secretary of State said earlier this week, the Music Export Growth Scheme that we inherited from the previous government will now be subject to a comprehensive review.' Lord Walney, the government's former extremism adviser, said: 'These shocking comments are beyond irresponsible – they are criminal incitement that risk putting MPs in credible danger for their lives. 'Two MPs have been murdered for ideological reasons in recent years and we have just come through the most threatening election campaign in living memory. This is very serious and it is a test case for the police.' 'Incitement to murder' Steve Baker, a former Northern Ireland secretary, said the comments 'appear to be incitement to murder'. 'Peace in Northern Ireland was secured at great cost and compromise. It is a peace to be treasured,' he said. 'I am all too aware dissident Republicans do not accept that peace but I would expect mainstream Nationalists and Republicans to join me in stridently condemning such reckless words.' Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Buckingham, added: 'In the aftermath of two murdered MPs in recent years, it is sickening and appalling that this has been said at a gig – an incitement to violence and murder. Unacceptable.' Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was shot and stabbed to death on June 16 2016 by Thomas Mair, a far-Right extremist. Sir David Amess, a Tory MP, was killed at a constituency surgery in Southend on October 15 2021 by Ali Harbi Ali, an Islamist extremist. In a statement on social media on Friday night, Kneecap said it had faced 'a coordinated smear campaign' after displaying pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages at the Coachella music festival. 'The recent attacks against us, largely emanating from the US, are based on deliberate distortions and falsehoods,' the group said. 'We are taking action against several of these malicious efforts. The reason Kneecap is being targeted is simple – we are telling the truth, and our audience is growing.' Kneecap went on to claim its critics 'weaponise false accusations of anti-Semitism' and accused Israel of 'genocide', claiming many Jews were 'outraged… just as we are'.
Al Etihad
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Etihad
TRENDS hosts counter-extremism seminar in UK House of Lords
14 Mar 2025 15:31 LONDON (ALETIHAD)A scientific seminar organised by TRENDS Research & Advisory at the UK House of Lords emphasised the need to combat extremism as a fundamental step in ensuring security and stability locally and discussion highlighted the importance of correcting extremist ideologies and providing educational, economic, and social alternatives to prevent the spread of radical ideas, especially among youth, who are the primary targets of extremist seminar highlighted that countering extremism requires a comprehensive approach that combines security, intellectual, and technological solutions to ensure a safer and more stable future for UK House of Lords hosted this seminar, which was the second of its kind in less than two months, under the title, 'Strengthening the UK-Middle East and North Africa Partnership in Countering Extremism and Promoting Prosperity.'The event was honorarily sponsored by Lord Walney and attended by a distinguished group of parliamentarians, researchers, and counter-extremism seminar was moderated by Lord Walney, who emphasised that extremism poses a global threat that requires a unified international strategy to confront Donald Anderson, a member of the House of Lords, delivered a keynote speech, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation between the UK and the Middle East and North Africa in countering extremism. He also highlighted the key role of research institutions in analysing and understanding the challenges Western societies face due to the spread of extremist Mohammed Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory, asserted that international cooperation is essential to countering extremism and promoting values of tolerance. He explained that TRENDS is actively working to dismantle the rhetoric of terrorist groups through meticulous scientific analysis of the concepts and ideologies of such organisations. The seminar featured the participation of Sir Liam Fox, Chairman of the UK Abraham Accords Group; Lady Olga Maitland, Former Member of the UK Parliament; Hannah Baldock, Editor of "Focus on Western Political Islam" magazine; Anna Stanley, Researcher at the Middle East Forum; Tom Tugendhat, Member of the Parliamentary Group for Countering Extremism; Daniel Kawczynski, Member of the UK Parliament; Aviram Belaishe, Head of the Counter-Extremism Project; Awad Al-Breiki, Senior Researcher and Head of TRENDS Global Sector; Abdulaziz AlShehhi, Senior Researcher and Deputy Head of Research Sector at TRENDS; and Shama Al-Qutba and Zayed Aldaheri, Researchers at TRENDS.
Telegraph
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Protesters able to hide faces because of mask ban loophole
Protesters will still be able to hide their faces on marches because of a loophole in a proposed mask ban. Police will be given the power to arrest individuals who refuse to remove face coverings at protests under plans laid out in the Crime and Policing Bill. It has emerged protesters will be able to maintain their face coverings for 'medical reasons', raising concerns that marchers could evade the ban with spurious claims. In a disability impact assessment of the new bill, officials said the wording of the offence had been 'designed to include an explicit defence where a person is wearing an item for health reasons'. The government moved to tighten rules on face coverings at protests over concerns they were used to intimidate members of the public and career out illegal activity. The government's former anti-extremism tsar has warned the exemption is too 'broad' and will be exploited by aggressive protestors to 'get them off the hook'. Lord Walney, who last month was sacked as the government's independent adviser on political violence and disruption, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'I'm really concerned to see this and I'm sure that it's something MPs and peers, when it comes through the Lords, will want to scrutinise very closely.' 'The strong suspicion is that protesters spread to their activists the magic words that will get them off the hook with the police. Look at the manuals they hand out to their protesters. They are very organised people and when there are caveats this broad it will quickly become the norm for them to take advantage of that.' Loophole could be 'exploited' Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, said the loophole would 'inevitably be exploited by bad actors'. He called on the government to tighten the exemption to a list of 'specific and diagnosed medical conditions' to prevent it being used as a loophole. Mr Philp told the Sunday Telegraph: 'There are justifiable concerns that this could be a loophole to help aggressive protesters wearing masks circumvent the new clause in the bill that bans face coverings. It will be essential to make sure this exemption only applies to those with a specific and diagnosed medical condition, otherwise it will inevitably be exploited by bad actors.' 'Wearing a mask at a protest can often be intimidating to others or used by those planning aggressive or even illegal behaviour. The police need to be able to see people's faces to identify anyone who commits a criminal offence and to identify people who may be wanted.' In his landmark report on political violence and disruption delivered last year, Lord Walney recommended a blanket ban on face coverings at protests as well as the use of pyrotechnics. The report, titled Protecting Our Democracy From Coercion, recommended a crackdown on violent and intimidating forms of protest. Last month he was sacked when Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, abolished his independent advisory role. He believes the new Crime and Policing Bill does not give the police and Home Secretary sufficient powers to crack down on repeated mass demonstrations such as the Gaza protests that have been taking place in central London since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.
Telegraph
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Home Office cut Islamist deradicalisation funding in half after Oct 7 massacre
The Prevent counter-terrorism programme spent half as much tackling Islamic extremism after the Oct 7 attacks than it did the year before, The Telegraph can reveal. Grants made by the programme focused on Islamic extremism went down by almost 50 per cent in the months following the Hamas attack on Israel compared with the same period the previous year. Between October and December 2023 the Home Office spent approximately £100,000 on grants designed to combat Islamist extremism – 19 per cent of a £529,300 total. Over that same period in 2022 around £196,000 was given in grants tackling the problem – 29 per cent of a total of £677,716. Local authorities bid for Prevent grants based on the radicalisation risks in their area before bespoke programmes are carried out by grassroots organisations. Grants to tackle 'extreme Right-wing' ideologies are also available under the scheme. The figures, released via a freedom of information request, will raise concerns over the way Prevent allocates funding. Anti-Semitic incidents reached a record high in 2023 and two thirds of them took place on or after Oct 7. Community tensions also rose after pro-Palestine protesters took to the streets every weekend in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Suella Braverman, the then home secretary, branded them 'hate marches' while police repeatedly arrested demonstrators over anti-Semitic signs and slogans. In 2023, the Home Office recorded the highest number of terrorism arrests for young people (aged under 17) since records began. Lord Walney, who served for four years as the Government's independent adviser on political violence and extremism, said the results of the analysis should 'ring alarm bells'. He said: 'Investment appears to have been cut at precisely the moment when you could expect a rise in extremism after the atrocities of Oct 7. 'There needs to be an urgent explanation from the [Home Office] as to why this funding was cut and whether this was a deliberate decision or dysfunction. Neither bodes well.' The former Labour MP added that the decision should be investigated as part of the review into Prevent commissioned following the Southport attack last July. The peer said the review should look at 'whether the system itself is fit for purpose', adding: 'The idea of there having been a cut after [Oct 7] ought to ring alarm bells on that front.' Prevent funding is released throughout the year, meaning that programmes being delivered in a specific time period were often commissioned before. The programme has been criticised after it emerged that Axel Rudakubana was referred to the scheme three times before launching his attack in Southport. The killer was flagged after it was discovered he had been showing an unhealthy interest in terrorism. The referral was not escalated as it was decided that Rudakubana did not hold a terrorist ideology. A Home Office spokesman said: 'Prevent remains a vital tool in stopping people from becoming terrorists and has supported nearly 5,000 people away from radicalisation since 2015.'
